President instructed to involve FBI and EU experts in investigation into murder of journalist Pavel Sheremet

20 July 2016 - 14:16

In the course of the meeting with leadership of security forces, President Petro Poroshenko emphasized that a terrible crime had taken place today – the murder of patriot and talented journalist Pavel Sheremet for whom Ukraine had become a second Homeland. The President expressed condolences to relatives and friends of the victim, particularly to Olena Prytula who will be guarded pursuant to the instruction of Petro Poroshenko.

“I require to establish a task force. Khatia (Dekanoidze), please lead the group personally,” Petro Poroshenko noted. He also addressed Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko and Head of the Security Service of Ukraine Vasyl Hrytsak with a requirement to delegate the best experts and investigators to this group. “It is a matter of honor to take all measures to solve this crime as soon as possible,” the Head of State noted.

The President informed that he had asked the international partners for help and discussed the involvement of FBI experts having unique methods of examination of explosives with the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine. The Head of State stressed that the investigation must be fully transparent. The President also instructed the Foreign Ministry to get in touch with the EU partners and invite their experts to join the investigation.

“Do not exclude any version,” the Head of State asked.

The President added that there had been a difficult situation on the frontline the day before and a record number of casualties. “We shouldn’t forget that the country is defending itself against the Russian aggressor and the best sons of Ukraine sacrifice their lives on the frontline. We will not let anyone to open a second front inside the country,” the President said.

The leaders of the security forces informed on the first results of the investigation.

Chief of the National Police Khatia Dekanoidze informed that the investigation considered the tragedy as a felonious homicide in the course of which an explosive device equivalent to 400-600 grams of TNT had been used.

“The best investigators of the city are involved in this issue. It is a matter of honor for the National Police of Ukraine and the entire law enforcement system,” she said.

The Head of State instructed the Chief of the National Police to inform him on the investigation on a daily basis.

Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko informed that the task force had been formed. “Apart from the version of murder due to professional activities we are considering the version of destabilization in the city center,” he said.

Yuriy Lutsenko offered to increase attention to the upcoming mass rallies in Kyiv. “I don’t think we should forbid something, but any rallies must provide for the use of metal detectors. There is too much information on provocations that may happen in the coming days. Taking into account today’s dreadful tragedy, it can be a part of a bigger plan,” he noted.

Head of the Security Service of Ukraine Vasyl Hrytsak noted that the Security Service would work over the version that the purpose of the murder was to destabilize the situation in Ukraine.